The current global environment of high inflation, breakdown of free trade, and geopolitical instability is very bullish for the Australian resources sector.
Australia is uniquely positioned to benefit from the AI-driven global demand for energy and power due to its abundance of critical minerals.
Superior investment returns in Australia are found in alternative and specialized markets like pre-IPO investing, agricultural debt, and water rights, which are underserved by the country's major financial institutions.
Australia's largest public companies, excluding the major miners, offer limited growth prospects, making alternative investments essential for investors seeking high returns.
The massive and structurally growing Australian superannuation system is a key source of future growth for alternative asset managers, despite the system's historical slowness to adopt such strategies.
Late 1960s and 1970s
Claims the resources sector represented as much as 65% of the Australian equity market, a historical high point he contrasts with today's 25% weighting.
1992
Notes the introduction of Australia's mandatory superannuation guarantee levy at 3% of salaries, marking the beginning of the rapid accumulation of pension assets.
2019
Regal Partners launched its multi-strategy fund, which O'Connor states targets high-teen returns with high single-digit volatility.
June 2022
Regal Partners became a publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) through a reverse acquisition of another listed hedge fund.
Current
States the superannuation levy has grown to 12% and the total pension pool has reached A$4 trillion, while observing a trend of pension funds internalizing asset management.
▶Regal Partners' Niche Market DominanceApr 2026
O'Connor repeatedly emphasizes Regal Partners' strategy of achieving a dominant position in specialized, less-trafficked Australian markets. This includes being the largest pre-IPO investor, the largest non-government owner of water rights, and a major provider of agricultural debt outside the big four banks.
This strategy appears designed to generate alpha by operating in less efficient markets where specialized expertise can create a competitive advantage, thereby avoiding direct competition with Australia's large, established financial institutions in public markets.
▶The Australian Superannuation OpportunityApr 2026
A core part of O'Connor's narrative is the scale of Australia's A$4 trillion pension system, which he notes is the world's fourth largest. He points out its structural growth due to mandatory contributions but also highlights its relative immaturity in adopting alternative investment strategies compared to global peers.
O'Connor frames this massive, growing, and relatively conservative capital pool as a significant long-term opportunity for alternative asset managers like Regal Partners who can offer diversification and higher returns.
▶Bullish Thesis on Australian ResourcesApr 2026
O'Connor argues that the current global environment of high inflation, deglobalization, and geopolitical instability is very bullish for the resources sector. He specifically connects the global AI build-out to increased energy demand, positioning Australia's critical mineral wealth as a key beneficiary of this major technological trend.
This view reframes the Australian resources sector from a cyclical commodity play into a long-term structural growth story tied to global technology infrastructure development, potentially attracting a different class of investor.
▶Contrasting Australian Market DynamicsApr 2026
O'Connor paints a picture of a two-speed Australian market. On one hand, he describes the large-cap public equities (banks, Telstra) as offering stagnant, low single-digit growth. On the other, he highlights the dynamic opportunities available in private markets and specialized sectors like resources and agriculture.
This narrative serves to justify the need for active, alternative management, suggesting that passive exposure to the main Australian equity index is insufficient for achieving significant returns.